Pressing machine



Eat, 16);?1935. MATTHEWS 2,23,896

PRESS ING MACHINE Filed Jan. 24, 1934 PKG-l II F||-|Ew &m&

3 7 x/i/l/l/Il/ll/l II F 7/////////////////// r INVENTOR ALBERT MATTHEWS ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 10, 1935 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE PRESSIN G MACHINE Albert Matthews,

The American Cincinnati, ()hio, assignor to Laundry Machinery Company,

4 Claims.

This invention relates to pressing machines of the type generally used in laundry and garment Work.

An object of the invention is to provide, in a pressing machine having a lower bed member and an upper head member, means for moving the head into and out of registration with the bed and novel means for producing pressure engagement between the head and bed when the pressing members are in registration.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a pressing machine a head movable into and out of pressing relation with a coacting bed while maintaining the head in a substantially horizontal position, whereby the operator is not subjected to heat directly reflected from the pressing head.

Another object of the invention is the provision of fluid pressure expansible means for causing a pressing engagement between the pressing members when they are in registering position.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a head movable into and out of registration with a bed, fluid pressure expansible means for moving the bed into pressing engagement with the head, and automatic means for admitting fluid to the expansible means when the pressing members are in pressing position.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art and the essential features are summarized in the claims.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a View of a pressing machine embodying my invention, showing in full lines the pressing members in out-of-registration position and in dash-dot lines depressing members in registration before the press closes; Fig. 2 is the press of Fig. 1 with the press closed; Fig. .3 is a partial view similar to Figs. 1 and 2 showing a modified form of a fluid pressure actuated device adapted to cause pressing engagement between the head and bed, the full line position shows the members in registration and the dash-dot line shows the members when the press is closed; Fig. 4 is enlarged transverse section showing a little -more in detail the construction of the pressing bed of Figs. 1 and 2; while Figs. 5 and 6 are detailed views of the valves shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

My invention comprises in general a fixed pressing bed, a head adapted to coact with the bed and movable into and out of registration therewith, and means for causing relative pressing approach between the pressing members when they are in registering position. In the embodiment shown, the bed is mounted upon a frame and the head is swingable upon arms v pivoted above the bed, preferably arranged in a parallel ruler arrangement, whereby the head is maintained in a substantially horizontal position as it moves into and out of registration with the bed. In the form shown, the bed is moved into 5 pressing engagement with the head by fluid pressure expansible means and the disclosure shows means for admitting fluid pressure to the bed actuating means automatically upon movement of the head into pressing position.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, on a frame it) is mounted a pressing bed H. and on upstanding arms l2 are pivoted arms l3 and Hi to the lower ends of which a head I5 is pivotally connected.

The head might be supported on a single arm Y but I prefer spaced sets of arms, that is to say, the arms l3 and M as shown and a pair of similar arms spaced therefrom longitudinally of the usual elongated pressing head. The arrangement of each pair of arms I3 and M is preferably in the parallel ruler arrangement shown with the pivotal connections between the arms and the frame and between the arms and the head spaced transversely of the elongated head in the manner shown. It results from this arrangement that the pressing head may be moved away from the operator to the full line position of Fig. 1 very quickly and easily, and the head being generally heated does not reflect the heat directly toward the operator as in the scissors type of press but throws the heat in a downward direction which is a more advantageous arrangement. I providemeans such as the spring 16 for normally maintaining the head in out-of-registration position. Cooperating stop members I! on the frame and I8 on the arm M limit rearward movement of the head while a stop member I9 is arranged to limit the forward movement of the head. A handle or grip 20 on the forward edge of the head is provided in a position easily grasped by the operator for the purpose of swinging the head into registering position against the bias of spring It. Means is provided for causing relative pressing engagement between the pressing members when in registering position and preferably this is in the form of power means, and in the form illustrated comprises fluid pressure actuated means. In Figs. 1, 2 and 4 the bed comprises a chamber 2i expansible by fluid pressure. The construction illustrated is most clearly seen in Fig. 3 where the bed comprises a base member 22 having upstanding edges 23 and to which is secured a flexible and expansible diaphragm or bellows-like member 2 3. Over the expansible chamber a suitable pressing surface is provided which preferably takes the form of a metallic cover 25 upon which is superimposed a padding or other suitable covering 26. For supplying fluid pressure to the expansible bed a conduit 21 in the base of the bed is provided with suitable piping connections as shown.

In order to admit fluid pressure to the expansible bed automatically upon the head moving into registering position, the head-moving mechanism may be arranged to admit air or other fluid pressure automatically to the pressing bed when the head reaches the desired position. In the form shown, arm I4 is provided with an extension 28 which contacts a valve stem 29 when the head reaches pressing position. This actuates valve disks 30 and 3| which control a normally open exhaust and a normally closed inlet, respectively.

The valve casing receives a fluid pressure supply' through conduit .32 but the disk 3| is normally held closed as by a spring 33, while. the disk 30 is normally open, as shown in Fig. 1, and provides an exhaust through the casing outlet 34. The normally open exhaust insures against the building up of fluid pressure in the bed-operating means when the machine is idle. A conduit 35 communicating with the valve casing between the disks 30 and 3| servesto conduct the fluid pressure to the aforementioned conduit 21 leading to the expansible bed.

For relieving the pressure in the bed at the close of a pressing operation, a release valve 36 is provided having a manual control 31 in position convenient for the operator and adapted to open the valve. This valve exhausts through the easing outlet spring 39. q The release valve communicates with the conduit 21 by means of a conduit 40. It will be noted that conduits 2'! and 40 are of a greater capacity than conduit 35. The purpose of this arrangement is to quickly exhaust the pressure from the pressing bed when the release valve is opened at a higher rate than the inflow of pressure through conduit 35. This is necessary for a sufficient length of time to permit the projection 28 to move out of contact with valve stem 29 so as to permit the inlet valve 3| to close.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3 the parts are similarly arranged but the bed is modified in that it is provided with a downwardly extending stem or pressure pin 4! and also if necessary with a pin 42 engaging a recess in the base to guide the.

bed in its vertical movement. Beneath the bed a cylinder andpiston motor 43 is provided having a.

piston 44 and a piston rod 45 adapted to engage the pressure pm and raise the bed into pressing. engagement with the head when fluid pressure is supplied to the fluid motor. The conduit connec-.

tions for the supply and exhaust of fluid pressure to this cylinder and piston motor are the same as those already described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2.

The operation of the press is as follows: With the parts in the full line position of Fig. 1, the operator arranges the lay of the work upon the bed, grasps the handle 20 and moves the head into registering position whereupon the projection 28 automatically engages the stem of the inlet valve and admits fluid pressure to the fluid pressure expansible means for moving the bed into pressing engagement with the head. Thereafter the 38 and is normally held closed by a.

pressing members will be held in this position by the pressure between them and the operator may release the grip or handle 20. After the elapse of sufficient time, the operator presses manual 31 to relieve the pressure in the bed and thereafter the head may be moved out of registration and the work removed.

The form of pressing bed shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4 is preferable where the fluid actuating medium is also used to heat the bed. In this case steam would generally be used although it will be understood that this form of device is equally adapted to use air. The modification shown in Fig. 3 obviously does not lend itself to heating of the bed by means of the operating fluid and in this form air would probably be used.

What I claim is:

1. In a press of the class described, the combination of a frame, a pressing bed mounted on the frame, two substantially parallel arms of substantially equal length supported at their upper ends by said frame on pivots spaced in a direction from front to rear of said press, a pressing head pivotally mounted on the lower ends of said arms by pivots spaced in the same direction, whereby said head is swingable into and out of registration with said bed by a parallel-ruler arrangement, and means for causing relative pressing approach between said head and bed when in registration.

2. In a pressing machine of the class described, a frame, a pressing bed mounted thereon, a pressing head, a parallel ruler arrangement supported on said frame and arranged to carry said head from front to rear of said machine and into and out of registration with said bed, and means for causing relative pressing approach between said head and bed when they are in registration.

3. In a. pressing machine of the class described, the combination of a frame, a bed mounted thereon, a portion of said frame extending over said bed, a head, a pair of rigid links directly connected by pivot connections with said head and with said extending frame portion, said links being of substantially equal length and their pivot connections at each end being equally spaced from front to rear of said machine for swinging said head rearwardly of said bed, means normally tending to move said head rearwardly of said bed, means for moving said head to position over said bed, and means for raising. said bed into engagement with said head when the parts are in pressing position.

4.- Ina pressing machine of the class described, the combination of a frame, a bed mounted thereon, a portion of said frame extending over said bed, a head, a pair of rigid links directly connecta ed by pivot connections with said head and with said extending frame portion, substantially equal length .and their pivot con nections at each end being equally spaced from front to rear of said machine for swinging said head rearwardly of said bed, means normally tending to move said head rearwardly of said bed, means for moving said head to position over said bed, power means for raising said bed into engagement with said head when the parts are in pressing position, and means operable by one of said links when said head is moved to pressing position over said bed for actuating said power means.

- ALBERT MATTHEWS.

said links being of 

